Highways Agency

Deer Initiative Report

This is a summary of a report prepared for the Highways Agency by the Deer Initiative. The Deer Initiative is a broad partnership of statutory, voluntary and private interests dedicated to ensuring the delivery of a sustainable, well-managed wild deer population in England and Wales.

Road traffic accidents involving deer have presented a major and under-recognised problem in Britain for many years. Increases in both the numbers and distribution of deer in Britain, combined with a continuing rise in traffic volume, means that this problem will continue to worsen unless action is taken now.

Until the Deer Initiative began this work on behalf of the Highways Agency, there was no system for central collection of data on road traffic accidents involving deer. This lack of information has posed a major handicap to effective management of deer on our roads. To find out more please follow the link below:

Deer on our Roads - Counting the Cost

Litter

Last year the Highways Agency launched a campaign to help reduce the amount of litter on our roads. To Find out more please follow the link below:

• Bag it! and Bin it!

Ragwort

As responsible landowners we want to help prevent the harmful effect ingested ragwort has on the health of animals such as horses and cattle. We also want to ensure that the surrounding plants and animals can thrive where ragwort has been controlled.

• Ragwort - Managing the Risk to Horses and Livestock in the M25 Area

Effective management of the environment

This short video explains how we manage our stock of roadside plant and animal life.